Tearful and emotional

Hello Wajdi, you're definitely not being a baby. A cancer diagnosis and treatment is a huge thing to happen and usually doesn't leave much thinking time to process everything. Maybe you have returned to work a little too soon? You've been through a lot and although returning to work quickly can be helpful for some others need longer to recover, mentally as well as physically. I've been off work since I had a lumpectomy and node removal last May and will not be returning until after I've had my radiotherapy but I'm sure others here who have been in your position and experienced what you are feeling will be able to provide support too as there is no 'normal' when it comes to getting over breast cancer, you need to do what's right for you xx 

hello. I was like this and am still a bit prone to tears. you have to remember what you have been through. the whirlwind of diagnosis, treatment, etc means it takes longer for your head to catch up. Then treatment is over, you lose the safety blanket of hospital visits and left feeling abandoned. I was quite hormonal as had to come off the pill, then tamoxifen plunged me in to menopause. life is very different plus post covid and trying to get back to some normality. it can be stressful going back to work but all I would suggest is take it one day at a time. if work is too much then pull back a bit. can you work from home?

Hiya

You are absolutely not being a baby whatsoever! 
You’ve been though and are still going through a traumatic time and every feeling you have is completely valid 

I’ve been advised many times on here to take one day at a time and it’s absolutely true , do not chastise yourself , you’ve done bliddy amazingly ! 

sending hugs 

love L xx

Your emotions are totally understandable! You don’t say when you had the lumpectomy but I didn’t return to work until after my radiotherapy as felt I needed time to come to terms with things. Try not to be so hard on yourself - maybe talk to your boss and/or Dr about taking longer off work to adjust. Any decent employer will want you to do what is right for you. 

Thank you so much for replying it has made me realise maybe I’m expecting to much. I had the lumpectomy 4 weeks ago and it all seems very surreal. I’m not really sure what I’m feeling about anything. 

Hello

I haven't posted in a while, but feel exactly the same... as well as having bad fatigue. I had a mastectomy 20 Dec, and then 2nd surgery due to infection and poor margin on 7 Feb.

I feel like it's going to be very hard to know when I'm ready to return to work. I've been on IV antibiotics for over 3 weeks, and hoping the last dose will be tomorrow. Also have another drain since the 2nd op.. which I also hope gets removed tomorrow.

I have no idea what's 'normal' in terms of returning to work..

As everyone else has said you're definitely not being a baby. Best wishes x

Thank you so much for your kind words and advice. Why are you having your radiotherapy so long after your op?  I hope you are remaining well!

kindest wishes

Hi 

1. Thank you so very much for your kind words. It sounds like you have had a very difficult time, with lots of spanner’s in the works. I do hope you have positive news tomorrow and they remove the drain and the antibiotics have done the job.
2. I no longer know what normal feels like and it’s comforting to know so many others feel the same. 

kindest well wishes to you xxx

Hi, initially my 'lump' was described as small, grade 2 and 'caught early' so the treatment plan started off as a lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy to be followed by radiotherapy. After the surgery last May the biopsy showed that the lump was larger than the scans indicated, some of the margins were not clear plus one of the three lymph nodes removed had cancer in. The plan then changed to 6 months chemo followed by more surgery in January which included a re-excision and full lymph node removal (30 of them!). I'll be starting radiotherapy in a few weeks, followed by at least 5 years hormone treatment, and have been advised that the radiotherapy may cause fatigue for 2 months or longer but I've been feeling fatigued since the first surgery! I'm doing ok and taking it a day at a time. I think that you just tend to get used to a new 'normal' but it takes time. You had some major surgery only 4 weeks ago so take it easy and look after yourself xx 

Hi Wajdi

I hope you are feeling a little better now you have had some positive and supportive responses to your question ?? . I also was diagnosed nearly two years ago just before the start of lockdown with breast cancer. It was caught early and I had a lumpectomy and radiotherapy.  It was such a shock as it showed up on a routine mammogram and I had no symptoms whatsoever.  I think we women try to be far too strong for ourselves and everyone else around us because it helps us get through everything. I found it difficult as I had to go to every consultant appointment and radiotherapy sessions on my own but I did it and I’m still here to tell the tale. I will be honest with you and say that I am also a manager with responsibilities to my department and staff team but my health and well-being comes first.  When I take annual leave for two weeks someone is put in place to cover.  When COVID restrictions came in place nearly two years ago lots of staff including management had to work from home and isolate because they were told to and this lasted for just over a year.  What has happened over the last two years has proved that adaptions can be made in certain jobs and roles. I took five months off work because I needed it, needed to come to terms with everything that had happened to me and needed to prepare myself for the chaos that I would have to put right.  By the way I am still putting it right but I don’t stress about about it as much as what I thought I would’ve done previously. Do you have Occupational Health or something similar you can talk to ?? Hopefully you will be able to sort this earlier before it causes you any more anguish.  

wishing you all the best xx